There is no better way to hold on to memories of that great trip than some amazing vacation photos. The problem is we often return home and are disappointed by the shots we take and don’t understand why. After all, the scenery was amazing, so why aren’t your photographs? There are some specific things you can do to make those travel shots pop. Follow these suggestions on your next vacation and see the results.
One of the first things you can do is see what other photographers are shooting. Even before you leave, do search on your destination and see what photographs are out there. Once you arrive at each destination, check out postcards in your hotel or a nearby souvenir shop. This may not only show you locations you aren’t familiar with, but can give you some great ideas on different angles or views of the landmarks you already know. Sometimes a different perspective can make a huge difference.
Speaking of perspective, change it up a bit. Go ahead and take the standard shot of the location with which everyone is familiar. But then, move around; get down low or up high. Shoot from different angles and locations. Often times that wow moment can come from simply changing the point of view to one that others haven’t thought of. A zoom lens is great for changing up the perspective, but there is an old saying that photographers have – zoom with your feet. Physically moving closer or further away will make dramatic changes in the image whether you have a zoom lens or not.
And while we are on the subject of zooming, don’t forget the details. Again, take the standard image of the whole building or landmark, but then try to get in some details. Focus in on a single door or even a doorknob. Look at the cupolas, scrollwork, and wrought iron trim – anything that might catch the eye. Look for interesting or repeating patterns. Seek out distinctive colors and shapes. From a single building that may traditionally result in one image, you can come away with dozens of great shots – so get in close.
No matter what you are shooting, think about composition and framing. There are tons of articles out there about how to compose an image, but just think about the image while you are looking through the view finder. If you move a few feet one way or the other, can you get rid of that telephone pole? If you duck down or get closer, can you remove the wires overhead? If the sky is nice, include some of it; if not, don’t. Include something in the foreground. This can not only give the image some perspective, but sometimes you can find something that creates a frame around the subject. Go back to zoom with your feet and move around. Always look at the whole frame, including the corners. Often times we get caught up in the subject and don’t notice the trash can until we get home.
Everyone loves to take pictures of their family and traveling companions on vacation and you shouldn’t forget about that. But don’t forget to also include strangers in your images. Many times we will wait patiently while a person moves out of the frame before snapping the shutter, but often including that person would give the image more life. Look for interesting and colorful characters that lend a special flavor to the image. But don’t intrude on people’s privacy. If you are shooting across a square with a long zoom lens don’t worry about it, but if you are up close, be respectful. Ask permission before you take their picture. If there is a language barrier, just smile and hold up the camera. You’d be surprised how often people won’t mind. And be sure and show them the picture on the viewfinder after you shoot. This will go a long way to helping the next photographer who wants to shoot the same person. If you are traveling alone or even a couple don’t just take pictures of each other, turn that camera around and take pictures or yourself throughout the trip.
With all the talk about how to take amazing vacation photographs, don’t forget to take in your immediate surroundings even if it’s a “bad” shot. If you have a nice hotel room, or are sitting in the restaurant in front of a beautiful meal, go ahead and take a shot, even if the lighting is bad. If you see something interesting or amazing, take a picture even if there is a lot of junk in the picture too. You don’t want to get home and try to describe something that you could have taken a picture of just as easy.
And on that same note, there is another photographer’s saying, “Get the shot.” What this means is that sometimes, things happen fast. In those cases, get the shot! Raise the camera and fire the shutter a few times. If flying monkeys suddenly appear in the town square, you may not have time to get the perfect composition or camera settings, so get the shot. Then, when and if you have a moment to think, try and make the shot better. For that reason, while you are walking around, keep checking your camera settings. Make sure the camera is always ready to fire off a shot without having to change settings. Leave it in full auto, or if you are comfortable, in aperture priority mode.
Take plenty of memory cards and to avoid deleting things until you get back home and upload them. There might be a great photo or something that can be adjusted with software
Follow these tips on your next vacation and you will come home with some amazing images.
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